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“What about school?”
“What about it?”
“When do you go back?”
“I’m not,” I tell him.
“So, because of us, you quit.”
“Where the hell is this coming from? Did you actually think I’d still go after losing Dad and Mom? That I’d leave the three of you?”
“Someone said…”
“Who is this someone? They need their asses kicked for not staying out of our business.”
“Mrs. Biddy.”
“As in BusyBiddy?” He laughs, knowing she’s earned that nickname. Oh sure, she tries to cover it up by pretending she truly cares, but I’ve seen her gleefully spread things that don’t concern her to others and never regret the consequences of it. “She knows nothing except how to start trouble. She isn’t a part of this family. She doesn’t know my plans, nor the lengths I will go to in order to keep all of us together. Do you trust me?”
“Yes,” he immediately answers which makes me feel better.
“Then trust that I won’t let anyone take you or Riley. I’ll do anything to make sure the four of us stay together. Okay?”
“Okay,” he replies then closes the distance between us and gives me a hug.
“Is that what’s been bothering you?” He nods. “Have your friends been giving you a hard time about this?” Same response. “Then you need new ones.” Nothing on that, but hopefully he’s thinking about what I said. Dad and Mom really didn’t care for the boys he hung around with anyway, said they were troublemakers and didn’t have Camden’s best interests in mind. Seems that once again they were right. “How about we go out, maybe get you some new stuff?” I point down at his favorite pair of tennis shoes that have seen so many miles they can probably walk without him. “Ember is taking Riley to do the same, so when we’re all done, we’ll call Nash and have him meet us for dinner somewhere.”
“Can we afford to do that?” There’s the real Camden. Always worrying about others.
“Didn’t you say you trusted me?” A nod. “Then know that I have it under control.” He gives me another squeeze then rushes upstairs to change.
“Nicely done,” I hear behind me. I don’t know when Ember came in, nor did I hear her unlock the door using the key I’d given her. I’m so damn glad she’s here.
“I was winging it. I don’t know what I’m doing, but I’m trying.”
“I know you are, honey. We all are. We’ll figure it out as we go,” she reassures me.
“We? I like the sound of that,” I tell her while giving her a quick kiss.
“Good. Get used to it.”
“Easiest thing I’ll ever do aside from loving you.”
“You say the sweetest things. What was all that about?” She inquires, referring to my talk with Camden. I fill her in after making sure he isn’t within earshot. Now that his fears have been addressed, and hopefully conquered, I don’t want to risk them returning. “BusyBiddy just never stops, does she? She cornered me at the grocery store the other day and asked if it was hard living in Kent’s shadow.”
“I’m changing her name to BitchyBiddy for that.” The way Ember’s parents treat her, as if she’s less than, has always pissed me off. It’s one of the reasons she’s always come over here instead of me going there. She knows I wouldn’t let them do that shit in front of me and preferred to keep us separated to avoid a fight.
She gives me another kiss, this one quickly becoming hot, and I’m tempted to carry her upstairs and have my way with her. But that’s not to be yet.
“Are you guys finally together?” Camden asks, interrupting us. To him, her joining us for dinner, being here every day, and so forth, is normal. Her and I locking lips is not.
“Yes,” Ember and I both answer.
“It’s about time,” Camden replies. “You ready to go? I’ll wait in the car.” And he’s already moved on, snagging my keys out of the bowl by the door as he goes. Ember and I just shake our heads as I holler for Riley.
“He’s back to the Camden we know and love.”
“Who would’ve thought talking about feelings and shit worked so well.” When she swats my ass, I ask, “What?”
